Glitter glue tube dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Dispensing apparatus for dispensing glue from a tube, such as a glitter glue tube, includes a housing, a cover member movably connected to the housing and defining a tube-receiving compartment with the housing which is opened upon movement of the cover member relative to the housing, an actuatable trigger arranged on the housing, and a compression mechanism arranged in the housing for engaging the tube when in the compartment and compressing the tube upon actuation of the trigger in order to cause glitter glue from the tube to be pushed out of a dispensing opening at a front end of the tube. Actuation of the trigger by the user therefore provides for a controlled dispensing of glue from the tube.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a dispensing apparatus for dispensing liquid substances from a tube and more specifically to a dispensing apparatus receivable of a tube of glitter glue and which dispenses the glitter glue in an easily controllable manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the arts and crafts industry, glitter glue, i.e., glue containing particles of glittering material in different colors, is sold in small, compressible tubes. A front end of the glitter glue tube is provided with a nozzle having a dispensing opening and a thread on an outer surface. A cap is threaded onto the nozzle to cover the dispensing opening. When it is desired to dispense glitter glue from the tube, the cap is removed and the tube is manually squeezed to cause glitter glue in the tube to be dispensed through the dispensing opening.

A significant problem with the manual squeezing of the glitter glue tube is that it is difficult to reliably control the amount of glitter glue being dispensed from the tube. This problem is caused in part by the inability of the user to continuously exert the necessary amount of pressure to cause a uniform bead of glitter glue to be dispensed from the tube. Moreover, the user is often unable to dispense most of the glitter tube from the tube, and certainly not all of the glitter glue from the tube, in view of the inability to apply pressure uniformly and simultaneously along the length of the tube.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved dispensing apparatus for dispensing liquid substances from a tube.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved dispensing apparatus receivable of a tube of glitter glue and which dispenses the glitter glue from the tube in an easily controllable manner.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved dispensing apparatus for dispensing glitter glue from a tube which enables most of the glitter glue in the tube to be dispensed.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved dispensing apparatus for automatically dispensing glitter glue from a tube without requiring manual effort to squeeze the tube.

In order to achieve these objects and others, a dispensing apparatus in accordance with the invention for dispensing glue from a tube, such as a glitter glue tube, includes an elongate, hand-held housing, a cover member movably connected to a front part of the housing and defining a tube-receiving compartment with the housing which is opened upon movement of the cover member relative to the housing, an actuatable trigger arranged on the housing, and a compression mechanism arranged in the housing for engaging the tube when in the compartment and compressing the tube upon actuation of the trigger in order to cause glitter glue from the tube to be pushed out of a dispensing opening at a front end of the tube. Actuation of the trigger by the user therefore provides for a controlled dispensing of glue from the tube. Moreover, the compression mechanism engages a rear end of the tube and moves gradually toward the front end of the tube to thereby improve the dispensing of the glitter glue from the tube in that most of the glitter glue in the tube can be dispensed, and certainly significantly more than if the tube were to be manually compressed.

One construction of the compression mechanism includes a motor, a screw, a gear arrangement for converting rotational power from the motor into rotation of the screw and a compression member threaded onto the screw. The compression member has a thread-engaging portion defining a threaded aperture with which the screw engages and a compressive portion extending into the compartment and adapted to engage with the tube. Upon actuation of the trigger, the screw rotates in a first direction causing lateral displacement of the compression member in a direction toward a front end of the housing and thus compression of the tube by the compressive portion when engaged therewith. One construction of the compressive portion includes a base, a rotatable roller and a support structure for rotatably supporting the roller at a distance from the base. When a rear end portion of the tube is placed between the roller and the base, the lateral displacement of the compression member toward the front end of the housing causes the roller to rotate and press the tube against the base and thus glue to flow toward a dispensing opening at a front end of the tube and out from the dispensing opening.

The compression mechanism is preferably designed to cause rotation of the screw in a second direction opposite to the first direction when actuation of the trigger stops to thereby cause a slight rearward lateral displacement of the compressive portion. This causes glue at the dispensing opening to be drawn back into the tube and thus prevents glue from remaining at the dispensing opening where it could leak out. The compression mechanism is also preferably arranged to cause rotation of the screw in the second direction when a latch, which secures the cover member to the housing, is actuated to enable pivotal movement of the cover member relative to the housing and then released to thereby cause rearward lateral displacement of the compressive portion into a position allowing for disengagement of the tube from the compressive portion.

The cover member includes an opening through which a dispensing nozzle of the tube projects when in the compartment. The opening is defined by a truncated conical portion at the front end of the cover member. The cover member can be pivotally connected to the housing so that upon pivoting relative to the housing, a tube can be slid into the conical portion. A latch is provided to secure the cover member to the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a dispensing apparatus for dispensing glitter glue from a glitter glue tube received in the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the dispensing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the dispensing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the cover member pivoted upward into a position allowing access to the glitter glue tube-receiving compartment and showing a glitter glue tube for use with the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the same or similar objects, FIG. 1 shows a dispensing apparatus in accordance with the invention for dispensing glitter glue from glitter glue tubes and is designated generally as 10. Dispensing apparatus 10 includes an elongate housing 12, a cover member 14 movably connected to a front portion 12A of the housing 12 and a trigger 16 projecting from a bottom of the front portion 12A of the housing 12 below the cover member 14. Rear portion 12B of the housing 12 has a form which provides for easy manual handling. Housing 12 can be made from two complementary plastic parts 18, 20 and connected together via screws (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

Cover member 14 is pivotally connected to the housing 12 via pivot pins 22 formed on the front portion 12A of the housing 12 and corresponding apertures 24 formed on the cover member 14 (see FIG. 2). Cover member 14 defines a glitter tube-retaining compartment 26 with the housing 12. Compartment 26 is accessible upon upward pivoting of the cover member 14 relative to the housing 12 (the position shown in FIG. 3). A latch mechanism 28 is arranged in the housing 12 to engage with a projection 30 on the cover member 14 and thereby latch the cover member 14 to the housing 12 when the cover member 14 is in its closed position. Latch mechanism 28 is released by, e.g., depressing it downward, and thereby enables the cover member 14 to be pivoted upward to expose the compartment 26, e.g., to enable removal of the glitter glue tube therein or insert a glitter glue tube therein.

Cover member 14 includes a window 32 preferably made of a transparent material to enable a glitter glue tube 34 present in the compartment 26 to be viewed. This is useful to enable the user to see what color glitter glue is being used and when the glitter glue tube is empty. Cover member 14 also includes a truncated conical portion 36 at its front end which accommodates the nozzle area of the glitter glue tube 34.

As shown in FIG. 3, housing 12 includes a support platform 38 which defines a bottom of the compartment 26 and on which the glitter glue tube 34 rests when in the compartment 26. Housing 12 also includes a removable battery compartment door 40 attached to a remaining part of the housing 12 by a screw.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 which show the interior of housing 12, a battery compartment 42 is provided for housing one or more batteries (not shown), a power switch 44 is mounted to the housing part 18 and has an actuating button 46 extending through an aperture 48 in the rear portion of housing part 18 to enable the user to selectively turn the apparatus 10 on and off, and a compression mechanism 50 is arranged in the housing part 20 to operatively engage with and compress a glitter glue tube when in the compartment 26. Electrical interconnection structure is provided to electrically connect in a circuit, the trigger 16, the batteries, the power switch 44, and the compression mechanism 50, e.g., wires, contacts and the like. The batteries can be replaced by removing the battery compartment door 40.

Compression mechanism 50 includes a motor 52, a screw 54, a gear arrangement 56 for converting the rotational power from the motor 52 into rotation of the screw 54 and a compression member 58 threaded onto the screw 54. Generally, the gear arrangement 56 is designed to reduce the transferred rotational speed of the drive shaft of the motor 52 and increase the power of the motive drive.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 6, compression member 58 has a thread-engaging portion 60 defining a threaded aperture with which the screw 54 is engaged, and a compressive portion 62 which engages with the glitter glue tube. Compressive portion 62 includes a base 64 which extends across the compartment 26 and has a width at least equal to the width of the glitter glue tube to be used with apparatus 10, and a pair of brackets 66 extending upward from edges of the base 64, each bracket 66 including an aperture. Compressive portion 62 also includes a rotatable roller 68 mounted at its axial ends in the apertures in the brackets 66. Thread-engaging portion 60 projects downward from the base 64 through an elongate slot 70 formed in the support platform 38. Instead of a pair of brackets 66 for supporting the roller 68 at a distance from the base 64, an alternative support structure can be used.

To use dispensing apparatus 10, the latch mechanism 28 is pressed downward and cover member 14 is pivoted upward to expose the compartment 26. A glitter glue tube 34 of the desired color is placed into engagement with the cover member 14 such that its nozzle is received in the truncated conical portion 36 of the cover member 14 and protrudes slightly beyond the front edge of the cover member 14. When cover member 14 is pivoted downward into engagement with latch mechanism 28, the rear end of the glitter glue tube 34 (which is preferably tapered as shown in FIG. 3) is positioned between the base 64 and the roller 68. The apparatus 10 is then ready for dispensing glitter glue from the glitter glue tube 34, provided batteries are in place in the battery compartment 42. If not, the battery compartment door 40 is opened and the necessary battery or batteries are placed into the battery compartment 42.

To dispense glitter glue from the glitter glue tube 34, the apparatus 10 is turned on by moving actuating button 46 of power switch 44 to the on position and the apparatus 10 is then grasped and manipulated to place the protruding part of the nozzle of the glitter glue tube 34 at the location where the glitter glue is to be dispensed. Trigger 16 is pressed inward causing motor 52 to provide motive power to the gear arrangement 56 which in turn causes rotation of the screw 54. The screw 54 rotates in one direction to cause lateral movement of the compression member 58 in a direction toward the nozzle of the glitter glue tube 34 (forward motion). Lateral movement of the compression member 58 toward the nozzle of the glitter glue tube 34 causes the roller 68 to roll along the glitter glue tube 34 and press the glitter glue tube against the base 64. This pressure causes glitter glue to flow out of the dispensing opening of the glitter glue tube 34. As long as the trigger 16 is pressed inward, glitter glue will flow out of the dispensing opening of the glitter glue tube 34.

An advantage obtained by using compression member 58 is that the glitter glue tube 34 is compressed uniformly and linearly by compressive portion 62 from its rear end toward its forward, nozzle end so that almost all of the glitter glue in the glitter glue tube 34 can be squeezed out. There is little or no glue that remains rearward of the compressive portion 62 of the compression member 58 during its forward movement toward the nozzle of the glitter glue tube 34. This can be ensured by appropriate sizing of the roller 68 and positioning of the roller 68 relative to the base 64, i.e. appropriate dimensioning of the brackets 66 and apertures therein which support the roller 68 at a distance from the base 64.

As mentioned above, electrical interconnection structure is provided to electrically connect in a circuit, the trigger 16, the batteries when present in battery compartment 42, the power switch 44, and the compression mechanism 50. This electrical interconnection structure includes electronic components such as a microprocessor which may be programmed to provide a particularly advantageous operation of the apparatus 10.

Specifically, to avoid the problem of glitter glue remaining in and around the dispensing opening of the glitter glue tube 34 and possible leaking out of the glitter glue tube 34 once pressing on the trigger 16 is stopped, the microprocessor is programmed to cause the compression member 58 to move slightly rearward, i.e., in a direction away from the nozzle of the glitter glue tube 34, when pressure stops being applied to the trigger 16. The slight rearward movement of the compression member 58 results in the roller 68 moving rearward so that glitter glue is drawn from the dispensing opening back into the body of the glitter glue tube 34. It is also advantageous that the slight rearward movement maintains the compressive portion 62 of the compression member 58 proximate the last dispensing location so that when dispensing of glitter glue is subsequently desired, glitter glue flows out of the dispensing opening substantially immediately after application of pressure to the trigger 16.

When it is desired to change the glitter glue tube 34, to either replace an empty glitter glue tube or change the color of the glitter glue being dispensed, latch mechanism 28 is pressed downward and cover member 14 is pivoted upward to expose the compartment 26. When the latch mechanism 28 is released, the microprocessor is designed to cause the compression member 58 to move rearward to a position in which the rear end portion of the glitter glue tube 34 can be removed from between the base 66 and roller 68. This is effected by the motor 52 causing rotation of the screw 54 in a direction opposite the direction in which it rotates to cause forward movement of the compression member 58. Once the compression member 58 completes its rearward movement to an initial position at the rearward end of the compartment 26, the glitter glue tube 34 can be easily removed from the compartment 26. To actuate the motor 52 upon release of the latch mechanism 28, a sensor can be connected to or associated with the latch mechanism 28 to monitor its position.

Use of the apparatus 10 continues after the new glitter glue tube 34 is engaged with the cover member 14 and the cover member 14 is pivoted downward into engagement with latch mechanism 28.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing glue from a tube, comprising: a housing; a cover member movably connected to said housing and defining a tube-receiving compartment with said housing, said compartment being opened upon movement of said cover member relative to said housing; an actuatable trigger arranged on said housing; and compression means arranged in said housing for engaging the tube when in said compartment and compressing the tube upon actuation of said trigger.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said compression means comprise a motor, a screw, a gear arrangement for converting rotational power from said motor into rotation of said screw and a compression member threaded onto said screw and extending partly into said compartment, said compression member being adapted to engage with the tube when in said compartment.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said compression member has a thread-engaging portion defining a threaded aperture with which said screw engages and a compressive portion extending into said compartment and adapted to engage with the tube, whereby upon actuation of said trigger, said screw rotates in a first direction causing lateral displacement of said compression member in a direction toward a front end of said housing and compression of the tube by said compressive portion.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said compressive portion includes a base, a rotatable roller and a support structure for rotatably supporting said roller at a distance from said base, whereby when a rear end portion of the tube is placed between said roller and said base, the lateral displacement of said compression member causes said roller to rotate and press the tube against said base and glue to flow toward a dispensing opening at a front end of the tube.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said support structure comprises a pair of brackets extending upward from edges of said base, each of said brackets including an aperture, said roller being mounted at its axial ends in said apertures.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said compression means are arranged to cause rotation of said screw in a second direction opposite to said first direction when actuation of said trigger stops to thereby cause a slight rearward lateral displacement of said compressive portion.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a latch for releasably securing said cover member to said housing, said compression means being arranged to cause rotation of said screw in a second direction opposite to said first direction when said latch is actuated to enable pivotal movement of said cover member relative to said housing and then released, to thereby cause rearward lateral displacement of said compressive portion into a position allowing for disengagement of the tube from said compressive portion.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising latch means for releasably securing said cover member to said housing.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said latch means comprise a movable latch arranged on said housing and a projection arranged on said cover member and arranged to be situated under said latch when said cover member is secured to said housing.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover member includes a transparent window at least partially alongside said compartment.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a support platform defining a bottom of said compartment for supporting the tube when in said compartment.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover member includes an opening through which a dispensing nozzle of the tube projects when in said compartment.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover member includes a truncated conical portion at its front end for accommodating a dispensing nozzle of the tube.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing is elongate and comprises a front part and a rear part, said cover member being pivotally connected to a front end portion of said front part, said trigger being arranged under said cover member on an opposite side of said housing from said cover member.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover member is pivotally connected to said housing.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising mounting means for pivotally mounting said cover member to said housing, said mounting means comprising pivot pins formed on said housing and corresponding apertures formed on said cover member, said pivot pins being accommodated in said apertures.
 17. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing glue from a tube, comprising: a housing; cover means for selectively covering an interior space in said housing to thereby define a tube-receiving compartment; compression means arranged in said housing for engaging with the tube when in said compartment and compressing the tube; and trigger means arranged on said housing for initiating said compression means.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said compression means comprise a motor, a screw, a gear arrangement for converting rotational power from said motor into rotation of said screw and a compression member threaded onto said screw and extending partly into said compartment, said compression member having a thread-engaging portion defining a threaded aperture with which said screw engages and a compressive portion extending into said compartment and adapted to engage with the tube when in said compartment, whereby upon actuation of said trigger means, said screw rotates in a first direction causing lateral displacement of said compression member in a direction toward a front end of said housing and compression of the tube by said compressive portion.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said compression means are arranged to cause rotation of said screw in a second direction opposite to said first direction when actuation of said trigger means stops to thereby cause a slight rearward lateral displacement of said compressive portion.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a latch for releasably securing said cover member to said housing, said compression means being arranged to cause rotation of said screw in a second direction opposite to said first direction when said latch is actuated to enable pivotal movement of said cover member relative to said housing and then released, to thereby cause rearward lateral displacement of said compressive portion into a position allowing for disengagement of the tube from said compressive portion. 